VIDEO: AIDS Project of Greater Danbury Launches Fundraising Campaign

BETHEL, CT-- The AIDS Project of Greater Danbury recently launched a campaign on startsomegood.com to raise $12,000 to renovate their space. The campaign launched on Dec. 2, 2015 and expires on Dec. 22, 2015. The tipping point is $3,000 which means if they don’t reach that tipping point they don’t get to keep the pledges.

Debbie Kadagian, a graduate student at Fordham University, is working at The AIDS Project to get her Master’s degree in social work. Kadagian is spearheading the fundraising campaign and told Patch on Wednesday that the room they’re looking to renovate “needs wall-to-wall carpeting, new couches, four chairs and items to make our waiting room pleasant. It’s very unpleasant at the moment.”

The center serves all ages, including children. They see approximately 1,500 clients per year which includes counseling, case management, medical and more.

“You could help funding cuts that have not allowed us to update our facility in many years. Any amount will help to make a difference in the lives of our clients,” the AIDS Project said in a statement.

The AIDS Project of Greater Danbury, a nonprofit, was founded in 1987 by Dr. Donald T. Evans and members of the Greater Danbury community. They serve all of Fairfield County. According to their website, their mission is “to advocate for and provide services to people living with HIV/AIDS as well as their families and loved ones while actively promoting AIDS education, prevention and awareness in western Connecticut and beyond.”

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Visit their website aidsprojectgreaterdanbury.org for more information or contact them at APGD99@aol.com, (203) 778-2437. APGD’s office is located at 30 West Street, Danbury CT 06810.

APGD services include:

Testing and Outreach | APGD provides rapid HIV testing, condoms and linkage to other services in the office and through the community by way of our outreach van. Staff also engage local college students and the LGBTQ community through an active presence at local nightspots.

Medical Case Management | Medical case managers intake all clients and are their central point of contact and referral to other services at APGD and monitor their adherence, review progress, book medical appointments and ensure they do not fall from care.

The Housing Program | We maintain both a 5 bed group residence as well as 11 scattered-site subsidy units. This program is the focus of this funding request.

Comprehensive Risk Counseling | CRCS services are available to help clients and their loved ones make wiser lifestyle choices and may link them to care by way of outside service providers to address issues such as mental health and behavioral modification.

Syringe Exchange Program | The SEP takes dirty needles off the streets, protecting police as well as clients from potential exposure to HIV and hepatitis, it also acts as a vital link to communities that are notoriously reclusive (drug users, the homeless, immigrants) forming the trust necessary to get them tested, into full-care and ideally to sobriety.